Sealing machine



V 1635 237 July 12,1927. .Hu ETWNSEND v 1 sEALING uAcHINE Filed Auge, 1919 4 sheets-'sheet I;

FIGA

INVENTOR INVENTOR H. E. TOWNSND SEALING MACHINE Filed Auz July .12, 1927.

FIG. 2

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fl G. q

INVENTOR H. E. 'rowNsEN'n SEALING MACHINE Filed ,411122.v 26. 1919 July 12, 1927.

July 12 192.7' H. E. TOWNSEND SEALING MACHINE INVENTOR lll Patented July 12, 1921.

HARRY E. TOWNSEND, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK..

SELLING MACHINE.

Application iled August 26,` 1919. Serial l No. 320,008.

This invention relates to sealing-machines, and has particular reference to a machine having a plurality of continuously rotating sealing mechanisms adapted for sealing bottles, jars, tumblers, etc., in a vacuum.

One' of the objects of my invention is to provide a machine of this character which is simple in construction, and rapid and eiiicient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a continuously operating vacuum sealing machine with means actuated by air pressure for automatically openingandclosing the vacuum chambers.

Another object of this invention lis to provide a machine of this type having va plurality of vertically reciprocating vacuum chambers and a sealing device in each chambel', with means whereby both a'chamber and a sealing device will be actuated by air pressure acting on a single actuating device.

Another object is to provide a machine of this type in which a single valve will control the opening and closing of the vacuum chambers, the exhaustion of the air therefrom,

and the operation of the sealing devices.

Another object is to provide an exhaust chamber within the frame of the machine and a pump actuated by the driving mechanism of the machine for exhausting the air therefrom; and still other objects will appear in the following description and claims.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view on the lines 2 2, Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 3, a sectional plan view on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a sectional plan view of the upper partof the machine on the line 4 4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a bottom plan view of the .valve control ing the air and exhaust connections: Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view of this valve on the line 6 6, Fig. 5, showing also the actuating cylinders and exhaust connections leading thereto diagrammatically arranged with reference to this valve; Fig. 7, a development of the conical surface of the valve shown in Figs. and 6, in which, for the purpose of avoiding curved lines, the circumferences of the top and bottom of the valve areassumed to be equal; Fig. 8, a.` sectional detail of the feeder and discharging wheels; and Fig. 9, a sectional detail of the valves controlling ber by thepump.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts I throughout the several views.

The bed plate l0 and the cylindrical column 11 constitute the frame of the machine. The column is provided with a shoulder 12, on which rests the ball bearing 13, supporting the carrier 14, revolubly mounted on the said column. .The worm wheel 16, secured to the lower end of the carrier bythe feather 15, and engaging with the worm 17, secured to the shaft k18, having bearings in the brackets 92 and 93, constitute the drive for the carrier by which it is given a continuous rotary motion.

The carrier is provided with a fianged portion 19 which serves as the package table of the machine. To this upper part of the carrier are bolted the cylinders 20, provided with covers 21, and in which work the pistons 22, provided with packing rings 23. Attached at their upper ends to the pistons are the tubes 24, having bearings in the extensions of the cylinders, and terminating at their lower ends with the flanges 26. Slidably mounted on the lower ends of the tubes are the vacuum chambers 27, provided with glands 28 and packing 29, to makel airtight joints between the chambers and tubes. The chambers are adapted to seat on the rubber gaskets 30, 'set into the table 19, to form an enclosed space around a package from which the air may be exhausted to obtain a vacuum in the package.

The interiors of the extensions 25 of the cylinders are cored out to provide recesses 31 around the tubes 24, which are in communication with the exhaust and the atmosphere alternately by means of the pipes 32. Airtight joints are made between the tubes and the lower ends of the extensions by the glands 32A and the packing 32B. The upper ends of the cylinders are similarly in communication with the exhaust and the atmosphere alternately by means of' the pipes 33.

nto the lower ends of the tubes 24 are screwed the stems of the sealing plates 34,

It will be obvious, however, that the machine could be used for sealing various other styles of closures.

The tubes 24 areu provided with' long slots 36 by means of which, when the pistons 22 are in the high position, the spaces below the pistons are in communication with the recesses 31 through the interior of the tubes. The upper ends of the tubes are closed by the plugs 37 to prevent communication through the tubes between the upper and lower sides of the piston. vThe lower ends of the tubes are provided with drilled holes 38, which are normally closed by being within the bearings ofthe vacuum chambers on the tubes, so as to prevent air being drawn into the tubes. through the chambers before the chambers are closed. p

It 'will be readily understood from the foregoing that if the air is exhausted from a recess 31, and air under atmospheric pressure admitted to a cylinder above'the piston, the piston and the tube 24 will move down until-the vacuum chamber is seated on the package table, thus' nclosing the package to be sealed. As the tube 24 continues to move down, sliding in its bearing in the chamber, the hole 38 in the lower end of the tube will be uncovered and the air in the cham,

sealed, the slot moves out of communicaon` with the cylinder 20, after which theremainder of air below the piston is exhausted through the small rhole '38^, delaying the descent of the piston and, consequently, the

. sealing of the package until the air has been fully exhausted therefrom.

If, now, the conditions as to exhaust and atmospheric pressure be reversed in a man.

ner to be presently described, exhausting the air above the piston and admitting air under atmospheric pressure below the piston, the piston and tube will move upward to the high position, and during the upward movev ment'the gland 28 will be ,brought against the gland 32A in the extension 25, causing Ythe chamber to be pushed down on the tube until the gasket 39 is clamped between the chamber and the flange 26, thereby making an airtight joint between the interior of the chamber and tube 24. v

As several of the sealing mechanisms are in operation atthe same time, in some of.

, exhaust cham hausted from the vacuum chambers, it is not only necessary to provide adequate exhausting means but it is important'that the exhaust be constantly uniform to insure the same degree of vacuum in every package. It is usual under similar conditions to install a tank of considerable cubical capacity between the sealing machine and pump, into which the air exhausted from the machine is discharged, and from which it is exhaust ed by the pump. The tank acts as a reservoir, so to speak, for the vacuum, in which the degree of vacuum is but little afected by the successive discharges of air from the sea-ling machine. This arrangement results in thedesired equalization of the exhaust, but involves considerable expense and labor in the installation of the machine, and the combinationiof pump, tank and sealing machine occupy much valuable space in the packing plant. v

In the present invention, I have combined the machine, pump and tank or exhaust chamber in a single unitary structure, thus effecting a considerable saving in the first cost of the combination, in the cost of installation, and in the space occupied. I accomplish this by utilizing the column on which the carrier rotates as an exhaust chamber and mounting an exhaust pump above the column in'communication with the chamber,\and connecting the pump to the driving mechanism of the machine, although it will be understood that the pump can be omitted in those cases where vacuum lines are a part of the factory equipment, in which event the machine is connected directly to the said vacuum lines in a manner well understood in shop practice. f

Referring to these features in detail the column 11 is provided with a partition 40, serving as the bottom of the exhaust chamber, and a head 41 intowhich is screwed the stem of the flanged casting 42, to which is bolted the pump cylinder 43, provided with the cover 44. Working within the cylinder is the piston 45, provided with packing rings 46. Screwed into the piston or otherwise having its upper end secured thereto is the tube 47, passing down'through .the exhaust, chamber and connected at its lower end with the driving mechanism of the machine by which the piston is reciprocated. The drilled holes 48 in the tube afford communication between the s ace above the piston and the bei', while the tube 49, set in the rubber ferrulesY 50 and 51,`in the head of the column, and the flangedcastin 42 respectively, affords communication tween the exhaust chamber and the space below the piston. -When the piston is on the down stroke air enters the' tube 47, through the` light as possible and, therefore, to obstrucal the passage of air as little as possible. A similar valve seated in the upper end of the tube 49 prevents the air under the plston from passing through the tube 49 into the exhaust chamber. These valves, when seated on the upper ends of the tubes in'which they are located, hermetically close the tubes by reason of their being provided with rubber gaskets 53, held in place by the washers 54, as best shown in Fig. 9. As the piston descends the air under it is compressed and forced out of the cylinder through the hole 55, in the bottom of the cylinder. This hole is closed during the upward Stroke of the piston by the valve 56, faced with a rubberpad 57, and held in place by the bracket 58. The valve is held lightly against the bottom of the cylinder against the force of gravity by the spring 59. v

When the piston is on the upward stroke the tube 47 is closed by the valve in its upper end, thus preventing air above the piston from passing through the tube 47 into the exhaust chamber, while air from the exhaust chamber passing up through the tube 49 lifts the valve in the top of the tube and enters the cylinder below Athe piston. The air above the piston is expelled from the cylinder through the hole 60, which is closed during the downward stroke of the piston by a valve similar to the yone attached to the bottom of the cylinder,

already described, except that it is not provided with the spring 59, the force of gravity being suicient to return the valve to the closing position after each discharge o air through the hole 60.

To the top of the carrier 14 is bolted the casting 61, the centre of which is bored out to receive the tapered. valve 62. The stem of the casting 42 passes through the valve but is a loose fit therein so as not to prevent the valve being correctly seated in the casting 61. The valve is prevented from rotating with the casting 61 by reasor of the tube 49 passing through it, this tube having both ends set in stationary members. Alrtight joints are made between the tube and the valve by the rubber ferrules 63.

The valve 62 is provided with an elongated horizontal exhaust port 64, near its A lower edge, and another elongated horizontal exhaust port 65. near its upper edge. It '1s also provided with an air port 66 above angl parallel to the exhaust port 64, and another air port 67 below and parallel to the exhaust port 65. The port 66 communicates with an air chamber in the upper part of the valve, formed by the horizontal partition 68 and the vertical partitions 69 and TU. This chamber is in communication with the atmosphere through the hole 71 in the top part of the valve, formed by thehorizontal partition 68 and the vertical partitions 7() and 72. This chamber communicates with the atmosphere through the holes 73 ano 74 in the bottom wall of the valve. The port 64 communicates with an exhaust chainber in the lower part of the v alve, formed by-thehorizontal partition 68 and the vertical partitions and 72.` The port 65 communicates with an exhaust chamber in the upper part of the valve, formed bythe horizontal partition 6 8 and the vertical partitions 69 and 70. This chamberis in communication with the exhaust chamber inthe column through the drilled holes 75, in thc tube 49, and in communication with the exhaust chamber in the lower part of` the valve through'the cored hole 76, in the horizontal partition 68.l .Making the valve in this manner, with air ports communicating with air chambers inside the valveinstead of recesslng its peripherypto provide communication with the atmosphere between the valve and its seat, 'affords the advantage of equalizing the wear on all parts of the valve, thereby preventing leakage between the valve and its seat.

The pipes 32, leading from the extensions of the lower ends of the cylinders 20, pass through the flange of the casting 61 at such a level as to be in line with the lower ports 'in the valve above described, and the pipes 33, leading from the upper ends of the cylinders 20, pass through this flange at such a level as to be in line with the upper ports of the valve. A i

It will be obvious from the foregoing that, as the carrier revolves around the statlonary valve, whenever theolower pipe of any pair is in communication with the lower exhaust port, the corresponding upper pipe will be in communication with the upper air port, whereby the air will be exhausted from below the piston 22, and the upper side of thepiston subjected to atmospheric pressure; and that the continued rotary motion of the carrier will bring the lower pipe into communication with the lower air port and the upper pipe into communication with the upper exhaust pipe, whereby the air will be exhausted from above the piston and the under side of the vpiston subjected to atmosheric pressure. This alternation of exiiaust and air pressure onopposite sides of the piston causes the piston, the vacuum chamber and the sealing plate to be reciprocated in the manner already described.

To the bed plate 10 are bolted brackets 77 and 78, in which revolves the crank sha-ft 79 to the outer end of which is secured the pulle 80, by which the machine is driven. A so bolted to the bed plate is a bracket 51, providing bearings for the shaft 82, on which works the bell crank 83. To the vertical arm of athis bell crank is connected one end of the link 84, the other end of which is connected by the cap 85 to the crank formed in the shaft 79, by means of which the bell crank is given a rocking motion. To the end of the horizontal arm of the bell crank is connected the lower end of the link 86, the upper end of which is connected to the eye bolt 87, screwed into the lower end of the tube 47 by which the piston 45 is actuated. The tube 47 has a bearingin the bottom of the exhaust chamber, which is. provided with a gland 88A and packing 89, to make an air-tight joint between the tube and the bottom of the exhaust chamber. The bevel gears 90 and 91 connect the crank Shaft 79 and the worm shaft 18, and it will be obvious that, by varying the proportions of these gears, any deslrable ratio of speed of operation can beobtained between the exhausting mechanism and the sealing mechanism. The same result can, of course, be

obtained by altering the pitch of the worm l porting the 17 and worm wheel 16. Thus by the use of one or the other of these methods .the machine can be adapted for sealing 1n a very high vacuum or a low vacuum, as may be desired.

The bracket 92 provides bearings for the vertical shafts 94 and 95, to the lower ends of which are secured the gears 96 and 97, engaging with the gear 98, secured to the lower part of the carrier vby the feather 99. To the upper ends of these shafts are pinned the sleeves 100 as shown in Fig. 8. These sleeves are used to provide additional bearing surface and, therefore, additional frictional resistance to turning for the hubs 101 and 102 of the feeder and discharging wheels clamped thereto by the screws 103. The bracket 92 is provided with a lug 1 04, supporting the guide board 105, on which runs the conveyor belt 106, by which filled containers are brought to the machine and Sealed packages removed therefrom. The bracket is also provided with lug/s 107, sup-M uide board 108, on which rurrs the return slde of the belt 106. Secured to the guide board 105, by suitable screws, are the brackets 109 and 110, to which is bolted the curved bar 111. Secured to this bar and extending to and over the table of the machine is the sheet iron support 112. Also secured to the guide board 105 are the brackets 113 and 114, to which is bolted the curved bar 115. Secured to this bar andl extending from the edge of the table of the machine to and over the conveyor beltl is the 'sheet iron support 116.

In o eration, filled containers with closures p aced loosel on the top ithereof are brought by the be t 106 to the sealing machine. The containers may be spaced on the belt in proper sequence to arrive at.. the machine at just the right instant by any suitable spacing device. An arm 117 of 'the feeder. wheel pushes the container across the sheeturon support 112 onto the table of the machlne which is revolving continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig.

3. The feeder wheel being adjustable V011 the shaft 94, by. reason' of being clamped thereto, can be set so that when the arm 117 leaves contact with the container, the container will be exactly positioned under a sealing mechanism. The rotary motion of the machine brings the pipe 32 into communication with the exhaust port 64 of the valve 62, and the pipe 33 into communication with the air port 66 of the valve, whereby the sealing mechanism is caused to operate, exhausting the air from and sealing, the container in the manner already described. An arm 118 ofthe discharging wheel then pushes the sealed package across the sheet iron support 116 onto the conveyor belt by which it is carried away from the machine.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art my invention permits various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the sco e of the appended claims.

Having fully escribed my invention, I claim:

1. In a vacuum sealing machine, an upright column having a hollow interior constituting an exhaust-chamber, a carrier revolubly mounted on the column, a plurality of vacuum-chambers supported by the carrier, a stationary ported valve mounted above the column for controlling communication between the vacuum-chambers and the exhaust-chamber, an `exhaust pump above the valve, and exhaust connections from the pump to the exhaust-chamber.

2f In a vacuum sealing machine, an upright column having a hollow interior constituting an exhaust-chamber, a vacuumchamber in communication with the exhaustchamber, a piston pump mounted above the column and supported thereb a tubular member for actuating the plston of the pump passing down through the exhaustchamber and affording communication between the exhaust-chamber and the pump.

3. In a vacuum sealing machine, an exhaust-chamber, a vacuum-chamber .in communication therewith, a piston pump for exhausting the air from the exhaust-chamber, a tubular member for actuating the piston of the pump passing through the exhaust-chamber and affording communication between' the exhaust-chamber and the pump.

4. In a vacuum sealing machine, an 'upright column having a hollow interior constituting an exhaust-chamber, a carrier ada ted to revolve around the said column,

by the carrier and in communication-with the exhaust-chamber, a piston' pump mounted above the columnand supported thereby, exhaust connections from the' pump to a p urality of vacuum-chambers supported the exhaust-chamber, a and an actuating means for the pump passing down through the column and connecting at its lower end with the driving mechanism of the machine.

5. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination with an exhaust-chamber and a vacuum-chamber in communication therewith of a piston pump actuated by the driving mechanism of the machine and having exhaust connections leading from both sides of the piston to the exhaust-chamber whereby the piston is adapted to exhaust air from the exhaust-chamber while moving in either direction.

6. In a machine for vacuum sealing, a container support, a vacuum-chamber adapted to engage with and be closed by the said support, a cylinder above the chamber, a piston in the cylinder, a connection between the piston and the chamber whereby the chamber is reciprocated with the piston, and an exhaust connection common to the cylinder and the chamber.

7 In a machine for vacuum sealing, a container support, a vacuum chamber having an open lower end adapted to engage with the support and be closed thereby, a cylinder above the chamber, a piston in the cylinder adapted to be reciprocated by air pressure, an exhaust connection intermediate the cylinder and the chamber, and a tubular member connecting the piston and the chamber and aording communication between the cylinder, the chamber and the exhaust connection.

8. In a machine for vacuum sealing, a container support, a vacuum-chamber having an open lower end adapted to engage with and be closed by the said support, a cylinder above the chamber, a piston in the cylinder adapted to be reciprocated by air pressure, an exhaust connection intermediate the cylinder and the chamber, and a tubular member connecting the cylinder and the chamber and affording communication between the' cylinder, the chamber and the ex- .haust connection, the said chamber being slidably mounted on the lower end of the said tubular connection, and the said connection having a movement in excess of the said chamber, whereby communication is established between the interior of the chamber and the exhaust connection after the chamber has engaged wvith the container support.

9. In a machine for vacuum sealing, a container support, a tubular member vertically disposed above the container support and having an air passage in its lower end, an exhaust connectionffto the tubular member, means for vertically reciprocating the tubular member, a vacuum chamber having an open lower end adapted to be seated on and closed by the said support and having its upper end slidably sleeved on the lower end of the tubular member, the said tubular member having a downward movement in excess of that required to seat the said chamber on the said support, whereby the airrpassage in the tubular member is uncovered and communication established between the interior of the chamber and the exhaust connection through the tubular member after the chamber has been seated on the container support.

10. In a machine for vacuum sealing, a container support, a tubular member vertically disposed above the support and having an air-passage in its lower end, an exhaust connection to the tubular member, a vacuum chamber slidably mounted on the lower end of the tubular member and having an open lower end, and means for causing relative vertical motion between the said support and the said chamber and tubular member whereby the chamber engages the support and is closed thereby and the chamber is pushed upwardly on the tubular member thereby uncovering the air passage in the lower end of the tubular member and establishing communication between the exhaust connection and the interior of the chamber.

1l. A sealing machine Vof the class described having, in combination, a support for a receptacle, a vacuum bell adapted when moved into engagement with said support 'to cooperate therewith to enclose the receptacle, said vacuum bell having an aperture vertically arranged in the wall thereof, a

plunger extending through said aperture in the bell, a sealing device arranged within the bell, means for reciprocating said plunger, a connection between the sealing device and plunger for moving the sealing device toward and from said support, a suitable friction slip connection between the bell and said plunger for causing the bell to move with the plunger toward said support until the bell engages said support, then permitting the plunger to move with relation to said bell to move the sealing device further toward said support, causing the bell to move with the plunger during the first part of the retracting movement of the plunger` from said support but permitting the retracting movement of the bell to be arrested prior to the completion of the retracting movement of said plunger, and means for thus arresting the retracting movement of the bell.

12. In a machine for vacuum sealing, a container support, a vacuum-chamber having an open lower end adapted to engage with the container support and be closed thereby, a cylinder above the chamber, a piston in the cylinder adapted to be reciprocated by air pressure,a connection from the piston to the chamber, and a sealing device secured to the lower end of the said connec- A 50 tion with the atmosphere du tion, the said chamber being slidably mountthe said vacuum chamber into and out of ed on the lower end of the said connection, engagement with the said support.- and the said connection having a movement 16. In a sealing machine, the combination in excess of the movement of the chamber with a continuously rotating package table l whereby the sealing device is given actuat- Yand fa plurality of continuously rotating varing. motion after the chamber is engaged uum chambers having open lower ends with the container support. adapted to engage with the said table, .'o 13. In a machine for vacuum sealing, an means actuated by atmospheric pressure for upright column, acarrier revolubly mounted moving the said Achambersinto and out of m on the column, a stationary valve seated in engagement with the said table.

the upper end of the carrier, a plurality of 17. In a sealing machine, the combination vertically reciprocating vacuum chambers with a plurality of continuously rotating supported by the carrier, a cylinder above container supports and a plurality of coneach chamber, a piston in each cylinder actinuously rotating vacuum chambers adapttuated by the alternate exhaustion of air ed to engage with and be closed by the said from each side of the pistonv and the altersupports, of means actuated by atmospheric nate admission of air\ under atmospheric pressure for moving the said chambers into pressure to the opposite side of the piston, and out of engagement with the said supand connections leading from the upper end portsfand a valve controlling the exhaustion lo of the carrier adjacent the said valve tothe of air from the'said actuated means, the said cylinder on either side of the piston, the means being brought into and out of comsaid valve having a pair ofparallel horizonmunication with the said valve by the rotal ports adapted to keep the lower pipe in tary motion of the machine. communication with the exhaust and the 18. A sealing machine of the class deupper pipe in communication with the'atscribed having, in combination, a rotatable mosphere during a part of the revolution of carrier, means for rotating t-he carrier.' a the carrier and another pair of parallel hori/ plurality of receptacle supports carried by zontal ports adapted to keep the upper pipe the carrier, a plurality of vacuum chambers in communication with the exhaust and the carried by the carrier having open lower lower pipe in communication with the air ends adapted to engage with said supports,

'during the remainder ofthe revolution of respectively, and means actuated by atmosthe said carrier. pheric pressure for relatively moving said 14. In a. machine for vacuum sealing, ansupports and said chambers into and out of upright column, a carrier revolubly mounted engagement in a predetermined timed relaon the column, a stationary valve seated in tion during each complete revolution of said the up er end of the carrier, a plurality of carrier. 'vertica ly reciprocating vacuum chambers 19. A sealing machine of the class desupported by the carrier, a cylinder above scribed having, in combination, a support each chamber, a piston in each cylinder acfor a receptacle, a vacuum bell adapted 40l tuated by the alternate exhaustion of airwhen moved into engagement with said supfrom each side oi the piston andI 'the alterport to cooperate therewith to enclose the renate admission of air under atmospheric ce tacle, a sealing device located within said pressure to the opposite side of the piston, be 1, means for moving said -bell and sealing and connections leading from the upper end device toward and from said support, com- 45 of the carrier adjacent the said valve to the prisingl a reciprocating plunger acting `durcylinder on either side of the piston, the said mg its movement in one vdirection to move valve' having suitable ports adapted to keep sald bell into engagement with said support. the lower pipe in communication with the and during the continued movement of the exhaust and the upper pipe in communicaplunger in said direction to move said sealring. a part of ing device into engagement with the closure the revolution of the carrier and other suitof said rece tacle, air exhausting means, and able ports adapted to keep the upper pi e in means ren ered eiective by said plunger communication with the exhaust an the during said continued movementthereof to lower pipe in communication with the air open communication between the interior of duringt e remainder of the revolution of said bell and said air exhausting means.

the said carrier. 20. A sealing machine of the class de- 15. In a sealing machine, a container supscribed having, in combination, a sup4 ort rt, a vacuum chamber y havin an open for a receptacle, a vacuum bell adapted w en ower end positioned above the 'said support in engagement with said support to cooperand adapted to engage therewith, a cylinder rate therewith to enclose the rece tacle, above the said chamber, a piston in the cylmeans for relatively moving said bell nder, a connecting `mem r between the support into engagement com vrising a cylpiston and the vacuum chamber, and means in er, a piston within the cylinder, air exforexhaustingthe air above and below the hausting means, means for opening com- 65 piston alternately lfor the purpose of moving munication between the cylinder at one Side and of the piston and said air exhausting means, and for admitting air to the cylinder at the other side of the piston, and means acting automatically while said support' and bell are in engagement for opening communication between the interior of said bell and said air exhausting means.

21. A sealing machine of the class described having, in combination, a rotatable carrier, means for rotating the carrier, a plurality of receptacle supports carried by the carrier, a vacuum bell and a sealing device associated with each of said receptacle supports, pneumatically operated means for moving each of said vacuum bells into engagement with its associated support and the associated sealing device into engage' ment with the closure of the receptacle, and means acting automatically to control said pneumatically operated means to thus operate all of said vacuum bells and sealing devices in a predetermined timed relation during each complete revolution of said carrier.

22. A sealing machine of the class described having, in combination, a rotatable carrier, means for rotating the carrier, a plurality of receptacle supports carried by the carrier, a sealing device associated with each of said receptacle supports. Pneumatically operated means for moving each of said sealing devices toward and from its associated receptacle support comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, and suitable connection between the piston and said sealing device, air exhaust-ing means, air supplying means, and means acting automatically to open and close communication between each of said cylinders at opposite sides of its piston andv said air exhausting and supplying means, respectively, to operate all of said sealingdevices in a predetermined` timed relation during each complete revolution of said carrier.

23. A sealing machine of the class flescribed having, in combination, a rotatable carrier, means for rotating the carrier, a plurality of receptacle supports carried by the carrier, a sealingdevice associated with each of said receptacle supports, pneumatically operated means for relatively moving each of said supports and its associated sealing device toward and from each other, and means'acting automatically to control` said 'pneumatically operated means to thus operate all'of said supports and sealing devices in a predetermined timed relation during each complete revolution of said carrier.

HARRY E. TOWNSEND. 

